. >> that night i told the american people all our troops would be out of iraq by the end of the following year. >> next week, it's the president's turn in a convention spotlight, the time warner arena in charlotte is almost ready. this state, north carolina, and florida, are battlegrounds in the race for the white house. both campaigns now will be carefully watching the polls to try to see what kind of a convention bounce, if any, romney got from the r.n.c. at the site of the d.n.c. in charlotte, i'm steve handlesman, nbc news. >> maryland will have considerable firepower at the next week's convention. senator barbara mccull mikulski is expected to lead the program that highlights democratic women candidates for 2012. the baltimore native is the longest serving woman in the history of conditioning. steny hoyer, chris van holland and denny edwards will also have prominent roles. governor martin o'malley is also scheduled to speak in charlotte. you can follow live updates on our smartphone app with live wire. >> looking at the morning's top stories. baltimore's big weekend here, the grand p